Objective To quantifying the urine human cytomegalovirus(HCMV)DNA from the HCMV infection infants and its corresponding liver function indications,and investigate the relationship between their concentrations.Methods The u-rine samples were collected from HCMV infection infants.HCMV DNA was measured by fluorescence quantitative polymer-ase chain reaction (FQ-PCR).Serum ALT,AST,ALP,GGT,T-Bil and D-Bil liver function indications were detected and the positive rate was analyzed,simultaneously.The correlation between the logarithm urine HCMV DNA (log HCMV DNA) concentration and ALT,AST,ALP,GGT,T-Bil and D-Bil were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis.Results The dis-tribution range ofurine log HCMV DNA in 444 HCMV infection infants was <2.70~7.90;the positive rate of serum ALT, AST,ALP,GGT,T-Bil and D-Bil were 24.8%,59.0%,95.7%,31.1%,16.7% and 16.3%,respectively.The urine log HC-MV DNA was associated with GGT and the correlation coefficient was 0.099 (P < 0.05),but no associated with ALT, AST,ALP,T-Bil and D-Bil.Conclusion The positive rate of liver function indications will rise in HCMV infection infants, the urine log HCMV DNA was associated with GGT,but not associated with other liver function indications.

Objective To investigate the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyl vitamin D in the common autoimmune diseases and whether the differences of the 25-hydroxyl vitamin D level exist in different autoimmune diseases.Methods 137 cases of autoim-mune diseases,including 71 cases of rheumatoid arthritis(RA),36 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),16 cases of Sjogren syndrome(SS)and 14 cases of ankylosing spondylitis(AS),in our hospital from January 2012 to April 2013 were selected as the re-spondents.The serum samples were collected for detecting the 25-hydroxyl vitamin D level by the electrochemiluminescence method and comparing the differences of the 25-hydroxyl vitamin D level among different autoimmune diseases.At the same time whether the differences in the proportion of the normal level,insufficiency and lack of 25-hydroxyl vitamin D exist among different kinds of disease.Results The serum 25-hydroxyl vitamin D concentration had statistically significant difference among the patients with dif-ferent autoimmune diseases(P =0.006),which in the RA group was significantly higher than that in the other groups;the propor-tion of 25-hydroxyl vitamin D insufficiency in RA,SLE,SS and AS were 29.6%,52.8%,62.5% and 57.1% respectively,which in the SLE,SS and AS groups was significantly higher than that in the RA group(P <0.05).Conclusion The 25-hydroxyl vitamin)D insufficiency is general in common autoimmune diseases,the vitamin D supplements needs to be strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo examine the prevalence of obesity phenotypes and cardiometablic disorders (CDs) among children aged 6- 17 in Beijing from 2004 to 2013.

METHODSData were obtained from two cross-section surveys, which were conducted in 2004 and 2013. In 2004, by using stratified cluster sampling design, 20 primary or middle schools were selected from 7 districts (Xicheng, Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Haidian, Daxing, Pinggu, and Yanqing) in Beijing, and 20 554 school children aged 6-17 were recruited, with weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure measured. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in 962 subjects from one school. In 2013, by using the same sampling design, 7 211 students from two districts (Haidian and Dongcheng) were surveyed with weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure measured, and fasting plasma glucose and lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C) were measured for 1 344 subjects in the same school measured in 2004. Student's-t test was used to analyze the difference in body mass index(BMI), WC, and waist to height ratio (WHtR) among children between 2004 and 2010. Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference of hypertension, impaired fasting glucose(IFG), dyslipidemia, and metabolic disorders clustering between 2004 and 2010, and among different types of obesity; logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between three types of obesity and risks of cardiovascular metabolic disorders.

RESULTSIn boys, BMI ((20.3 ± 4.4) vs (19.4 ± 4.2) kg/m(2), t=11.18, P<0.001), WC ((70.6 ± 12.8) vs (66.7 ± 11.8) cm, t=17.20, P<0.001) and WHtR (0.451 ± 0.064 vs 0.437 ± 0.059, t=11.64, P<0.001) were significantly higher in 2013 than those in 2004. Similarly in girls, BMI ((18.9 ± 3.6) vs (18.7 ± 3.7) kg/m(2), t=12.21, P<0.001), WC ((64.5 ± 9.6) vs (63.0 ± 9.3) cm, t=8.15, P<0.001) and WHtR (0.430 ± 0.047 vs 0.423 ± 0.047, t=14.13, P<0.001) were also significantly higher in 2013 than those in 2004. The prevalence of combined obesity rose from 8.27% (1 697/20 526) in 2004 to 10.74% (774/7 209) in 2013, and central obesity from 3.08% (632/20 526) to 4.44% (320/7 209). The prevalence of hypertension (10.78%(313/1 344) vs 4.29% (42/962), χ(2)=36.76, P<0.001), IFG(49.54%(664/1 344) vs 6.45%(63/962), χ(2)=506.61, P<0.001), high TC(11.53%(155/1 344) vs 5.03%(49/962), χ(2)=28.31, P< 0.001), high TG(7.51%(101/1 344) vs 3.59%(35/962), χ(2)=29.59, P<0.001) were significantly higher in 2013 than those in 2004. Subjects with combined obesity had higher risks of hypertension (OR=5.88, 95% CI: 4.42-7.82), high TG (OR=7.12, 95%CI: 4.35-11.64), low HDL-C (OR=3.04, 95%CI: 1.55-5.95), high LDL-C (OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.22-4.02), CDs≥2 (OR=3.07, 95% CI: 2.09-4.50), comparing to children without obesity.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of types of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders, except for low HDL-C and high HDL-C, were significantly higher in 2013 than those 2004 among chlildren aged 6-17 year in Beijing. Children with combined obesity had higher prevalence of metabolic disorders.

Adolescent ; Beijing ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; Child ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dyslipidemias ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Lipids ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; epidemiology ; Pediatric Obesity ; epidemiology ; Phenotype ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Waist Circumference

The slow progress in clinical applications of stem cells and the bewildering mechanisms involved have puzzled many researchers. Recently, the increasing evidences have indicated that cells have superior plasticity in vivo or in vitro, spontaneously or under extrinsic specific inducers. The concept of stem cells may be challenged, or even replaced by the concept of cell plasticity when cell reprogramming technology is progressing rapidly. The characteristics of stem cells are manifestations of cellular plasticity. Incorrect understanding of the concept of stem cells hinders the clinical application of so-called stem cells. Understanding cellular plasticity is important for understanding and treating disease. The above issues will be discussed in detail to prove the reconceptualization of stem cells from cellular plasticity.
Cell Plasticity ; Cellular Reprogramming ; In Vitro Techniques ; Plastics ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVETo study the dietary habits of school-age children in urban and rural districts and their association with blood pressure levels in Beijing, China.

METHODSA stratified, randomly clustered sampling design was used, 29 primary and secondary schools from four urban districts and three rural districts in Beijing were randomly selected in 2004. 20 638 children aged 6-18 years old were surveyed, and 19 072 of them provided completed usable data. The weight, height and blood pressure of the subjects were measured according to standard method.10 food-groups' information was collected by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The relationship between different dietary habits and the blood pressure levels in school children was analyzed by multiple linear regression model.

RESULTSThe prevalence of obesity among children in urban area (12.2%, 1 218/9 984) was higher than that in rural area (6.7%, 609/9 088) (χ(2) = 4.62, P < 0.05) , whereas the prevalence of hypertension among children in urban area (8.0%, 799/9 984) was lower than that in rural area (8.9%, 809/9 088) (χ(2) = 167.32, P < 0.05) . The diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among children was (65.7 ± 8.6) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in urban area and (67.0 ± 8.7) mmHg in rural area, respectively (F = 86.44, P < 0.05) , and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) among children was (103.4 ± 12.2) mmHg in urban area and (104.3 ± 11.6) mmHg in rural area, respectively (F = 11.33, P < 0.05) . Factor analysis revealed 4 dietary habits labeled prudent habit, protein habit, high-fat and high-calorie habit and vegetables and fruits habit. The 4 dietary habits' variance contribution rate respectively was 24.7%, 14.6%, 14.0%, 8.9%, and the 4 dietary habits totally reflect 62.2% characteristics of the 10 food-groups.In urban area, prudent habit was inversely associated with DBP (β' = -0.026, P < 0.05) , Protein habit was inversely associated with both children's SBP (β' = -0.018, P < 0.05) and DBP (β' = -0.030, P < 0.05) .In rural area, prudent habit was associated with children's SBP (β' = -0.050, P < 0.05) and DBP (β' = -0.039, P < 0.05) .

CONCLUSIONSThe dietary habits of school age children varied by sociodemographic characters in Beijing. The prudent habit and protein habit may decrease the children's blood pressure levels.

Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Child ; China ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo analyze the trends on the prevalence rates of obesity and cardiometabolic among children and adolescents in Beijing, during 2004-2013.

METHODSData was collected from three cross-sectional studies among children and adolescents, aged 7-17 years old in Beijing. Two studies in 2004 and 2013 were conducted in general population, and one was among obese children in 2007. Data on anthropometric measurements including weight, height, and age was collected from all the subjects. The obese children from all three studies underwent a clinic examination that containing blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile (TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C), and acanthosis nigricans. Liver transaminases detection (ALT and AST) and liver ultrasound examination were performed in obese children from surveys in 2007 and 2013.

RESULTSThe prevalence of severe obesity increased from 1.86% in 2004 to 4.17% in 2013, with an annual increase rate as 0.26%. The proportion of severe obesity in obesity increased from 18.92% in 2004 to 25.15% in 2013. After adjusting for age and gender, the prevalence of IFG, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C in both obese children and adolescents increased during 2004-2013 (all P < 0.05). The prevalence rates of hypertension, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and acanthosis nigricans in severe obese children were higher than those in moderate obesity. The proportion of children with 2 or more cardiometabolic risk factors in severe obese children was higher than in moderate obese children.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rates of obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors among children and adolescents in Beijing showed an increase during 2004-2013.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pediatric Obesity ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDSs) have recently returned to the limelight of academia and industry due to their enormous potential in oral delivery of biomacromolecules. However, information on gastrointestinal lipolysis and trans-epithelial transport of SMEDDS is rare. Aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) fluorescent probes are utilized to visualize the

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) represent a growing public concern for clinicians to manage in many medical settings, with substantial associated morbidities and mortalities. Among many current therapeutic options for the treatment of IFIs, amphotericin B (AmB) is the most frequently used drug. AmB is considered as a first-line drug in the clinic that has strong antifungal activity and less resistance. In this review, we summarized the most promising research efforts on nanocarriers for AmB delivery and highlighted their efficacy and safety for treating IFIs. We have also discussed the mechanism of actions of AmB, rationale for treating IFIs, and recent advances in formulating AmB for clinical use. Finally, this review discusses some practical considerations and provides recommendations for future studies in applying AmB for combating IFIs.